I have been fishing an old GLoomis #5(too slow and soft) to learn on for many years. I plan on purchasing a #4 for my usual streams(paluxy, llano, etc) and I'm undecided on sizes for the larger rivers and lakes I fish, here, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and in the Rockies(for trout up to largemouth bass). It's a broad question and I'm looking for whatever anybody wants to respond with.

I'm mainly looking at TFO, Sage(the cheaper Flight), Albright A-5, and Redington Rods. Oh, also have to replace my old GLoomis.

Thanks.

Opinions will vary but I think if you have a 3, 5, and 8-wt then you're pretty well covered for most fly fishing situations. The 8 will allow you to throw big flies and fish easily in windy conditions. The 3 will be loads of fun with small flies and from my perspective the 5-wt will take you lots and lots of places.

Keep in mind also that you can over- and under-line these rods, so you may have more flexibility than first meets the eye.

everybody is diffrn't but I like 3 eight for Bluegill, a 1or 2 would be okay but I throw small poppers with a dropper fly & it takes a 3 to get the job done.

a 5 weight is pretty good for streamers & when smaller (or larger sometimes) bass are around, a 6 could serve same purpose

from there I jump up to an 8 , 9 and a 330 gr (11 weight) for bass, dont always need the big sticks but they throw the big bugs best, if your gonna throw poppers smaller than 1/0 an 8 will do.

thats pretty much what I use, but like I said to each his own

dayum ol me & JM think alike (dats spooky)

Where are you located? If you can make it out to Lake Texoma this Saturday, TFO plans to be at the "Texoma Tie In" with their demo rods. You would have the opportunity to try and compare different rods and sizes.

Rex

I appreciate the opinions and that's great to know that a 3 weight will throw small poppers. Even when fishing small streams I like to mix it up, so below a 3 weight is probably not wise. Is there an opinion on 3 weight lengths? I know this also varies per company and especially fishing conditions.

I have under and over-lined my 5 weight to meet different needs, but now I just want more options and a better experience (though any day on the water is a great day).

Stephenville. Thanks for the note on the "Texoma Tie in", but it's the last weekend of duck hunting.

What model is the Loomis you have?

9ft. 5 weight adventure.

Any suggestions on specific rods along with the 3,5, and 8 weight would give me some good direction for research.

if you are already getting a 4 weight, I'd say go for a 7 weight next. They are the 16 gauge of fly rods

First of all, what sort of shape is that crappy old slow GLoomis in? And what would you take for it? I could probably even work out a trade for one of the rods you'd like to have instead.

If you're buying a 4wt, they I'd go with a 7wt TFO Axiom and an 8/10 TFO Mini-Mag. Now let me explain why...

You said the GLoomis is too slow for your taste. The TFO Axiom is the finest fast action rod I have ever fished. But I'm not the only one who says so. Check it out. A 7wt is still in the range of trout rods when fishing from a drift boat, in the wind, or in fast water and big rivers and lakes. But it is also a salmon and bass type of rod. The Axiom will handle line weights 7-9 flawlessly. contd

...

Then the TFO Mini-Mag will give you the very best striper/carp/saltwater fly rod money can buy. It'll handle floating and sinking lines in the 7-12 range with no problem! It's a joy to cast and it'll simply kick a big fish's butt.

The best part is that the Axiom has an MSRP of $275 and the Mini-Mag runs $300. You could just about buy 2 of each for the price of one of most other name brand inferior rods.

Does that mean a 2wt is the .410?

Exactly!

heh, like Ken said...